Winning the EFL Cup or FA Cup isn't 'life-changing' for Tottenham, believes Mauricio Pochettino

The Argentine is yet to win a trophy in England

Pochettino is focusing on the 'real trophies' like the Premier League and Champions League (Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed the notion he or his Tottenham Hotspur team need to just win any trophy to prove themselves, saying that it is only the Premier League or Champions League that would “really change your life”.

While staying respectful of the FA Cup and EFL Cup ahead of Wednesday’s home tie with West Ham United in the latter, the Argentine stressed that one reason it can be difficult to pursue such trophies is because managers inevitably use their best teams for the “two real trophies”, and the shuffling can make it “impossible”.

The fact that Pochettino has not yet won a trophy in his career has provoked debate about the exact level of achievement of him and this admired Spurs side, but when it was put to him that the Carabao Cup represents an opportunity to end that, he dismissed it.

“Yeah, but remember, our objective is to win the Premier League, our objective is to try to win the Champions League, for me two real trophies,” Pochettino said. “And then the FA Cup, of course, I would like to win.

“I would like to win the Carabao Cup but if you want to be a big team, if you want to fight for big things, I think it’s impossible if you don’t use all the squad and rotate in England with the international duty, it’s impossible. They are not a machine, and that is a massive problem for everyone.

“Spain is completely different. France is completely different. Germany is completely different. Italy is completely different, I think we need to teach our fans, we need to teach you too, because it’s so difficult to fight for four competitions and then how you manage your group of players.

“Of course, to win the Carabou Cup, yes, of course, but I think will not change the life of Tottenham. To win the FA Cup, fantastic, I would love to win the oldest competition in the world but it really changes your life if you win the Premier League or Champions League. That is the truth. And after someone want to manipulate my words, OK, go on, but that is the truth.”

As such, Pochettino said he would change his side for West Ham but would not put out a side full of young players, because he says it is important that Spurs maintain their recent run of form.

Michel Vorm will start against West Ham on Wednesday (Getty Images)

“For us, to keep the momentum is so important for us to win [on Wednesday] and for many players that maybe they don’t have the possibility to play in Champions League or in Premier League tomorrow is a great opportunity to show that can fight for a place in the starting XI in different competitions.

“I think you will see tomorrow the list is with I think all the senior players and a few players like Harry [Kane] need to rest and then of course we are going to play with Michel Vorm and then one or two players more that they need to rest but in the end maybe all the squad.”

As well as resting Kane and starting Vorm, Pochettino said that Mousa Dembele could return from a hip injury, and intimated young Argentine centre-half Juan Foyth would start.

Pochettino also praised Vorm’s attitude, and how he had “complained” about not starting by just putting in very respectable displays in training rather than knocking on the manager’s door.

“When people complain, but if they aren't good enough on the pitch or training session and there's no commitment to the club or you, then that's easy to say you are out.

“He [Vorm] is professional. They fight and show great quality and that's my problem. It's easy with those who complain. Players like Vorm, it's difficult to say we are paying you and not you.

“He complains with his performances in the training session. That's his way to complain. To show me he deserves to play. That is the way to complain to the manager and not knock on the door.”